Slip form paver



R. H. RINK SLIP FORM PAVER Nov...11, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1,1967 INVENTOR. $019420 hZ/GWK BY 6 a kk &

Nov. 11, 1969 R. H.RINK

SLIP FORM PAVER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1, 1967 firm/(war RH. RINKBLIP FORM'PAVER Nov. 11, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 1, 1967 IINVENTOR. P/c'Hmw/iR/NK W 6 am ArmQ/VEY United States Patent 3,477,354SLIP FGRM PAVER Richard H. Rink, Huron, S. Dak., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Northwestern National Bank of Sioux Falls, Huron, S.Dak.

Filed Nov. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 679,763 Int. Cl. Etllc 19/48 U.S. CI. 94467 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A compact, readily movable slip-formpaving apparatus for laying and finishing concrete strips (8 to 14 feetwide) utilizing vibratory means for causing the concrete mass to have afluent character and uniform thickness conforming to the shape of theforming portion of the apparatus Without the use of stationary forms.

The present invention relates to improvements in slipform pavers and inone aspect to apparatus for laying and finishing concrete in strips,particularly for the production or construction of roadways, parkingsurfaces, roadways with curbs, or other strip-like reinforced concretestructures.

The art is replete with devices for handling concrete and for formingconcrete structures. It is, however apparent from reviewing the priorart that these devices require a pre-formed pathway for the machine tolay the strip of concrete; and the majority of the devices merely spreadthe concrete between tracks in advance of a machine which carries withit screeds and floats for finishing the concrete. Machines are known inthe art for laying asphalt material which, .of course, has a plasticconsistency varying from that of concrete, requiring the necessity ofaugers or the like to distribute the material and to feed the materialfrom a hopper beneath a doctor blade, after which the material issubsequently compacted by a roller or other smoothing and compactingelement. This latter type of device is, of course, not suitable for thelaying of concrete. Previous concrete formers of the slip-form type havehad a tendency to lift or float as they were operated, thus failed to besatisfactory as a uniform strip or shape could not be maintained for anyappreciable distance. The device illustrated in US. Patent No.2,225,015, attempted to avoid this problem by the insertion of a bottomon the hopper. This type of device however causes interference withgrade leveling and requires an enlarged entrance area to the formingportion to prevent the concrete from slumping or falling away from theforming portion after moving off the bottom. The enlarged area (see 16bof the subject patent) thus has a lifting effect on the forming portion,defeating the advantage offered by the bottom. It is also desired to useguiding rails (angle irons 24) with the device shown.

Other devices, such as shown in US. Patents Nos. 2,077,356; 2,976,783;and 3,177,784 are used merely to distribute and level the concrete overthe area to be paved. These machines are usually followed by finishingmachines and the net result is a large capital investment, gangs ofworkmen to handle the side forms or rails, and increased setup time. Thedisadvantages of these devices are further increased when the job issmall.

The prior art also shows other devices for laying concrete strips (seeUS. Patents Nos. 2,779,258 and 3,123,- 872). The first of these devices,although simpler than the devices mentioned earlier, does not provideany means preventing the forming portion of the machine from lifting orhaving a tendency to float during travel. The sweeping edge 38 on therear of the hopper gives the forming portion an objectional upwardlifting force. The latter Patented Nov. 11, 1969 device is overlycomplicated and has also lacked sufficient support although sulficientvibration is utilized. Attention is directed to the pivoted auxiliaryframe.

The present invention provides a very simplified machine for the layingand forming of concrete in continuous strips of uniform thickness,side-by-side strips or for laying concrete in a form having a strip anda curb, or a strip and one or more ribs. The machine of the presentinvention affords means for forming strips of concrete in a side-by-siderelationship to pave a large surface such as on a parking lot, utilizinga minimum of setup time, no forms, and with few workmen. It affordsconcrete at a labor cost for laying and smoothing competitive to thelabor cost for laying and rolling asphalt material.

The novelty in the present machine is afforded by its ability to lay an8 to 14 ft. strip of concrete of uniform thickness, with or without areinforcing mesh properly positioned in the strip, and with a finishedsurface.

The machine of the present invention has several uses when provided withdifferent shapes for the forming portion, which shapes may be easilyblocked out when not desired, or when a smooth fiat strip is desired.

The machine of the present invention is adapted to be easily maneuveredinto position to begin operation and can follow the path, straight orcurved as desired, with little effort.

The machine of the present invention provides a machine having a designsuch that the strip of material will have a uniform width and thicknessas the apparatus will not tend to lift or float on the strip.

The machine of the present invention is self propelled and comprises aunitary frame supported on adjustable transport wheels, an open-bottomedhopper on the frame, vibration means disposed in the bottom of thehopper, and a forming portion substantially uniform in' crosssectioncommunicating with the bottom of the hopper. The hopper is designed totransfer Weight of the concrete mix therein to the frame, and themachine has built-in ballast tanks to add weight and provide the machinewith its own clean-up solution.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent afterreading the following detailed description, which refers to theaccompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the apparatustaken along the line 33 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the hopper andillustrates one modification of the machine including a curb-formingtemplate and also illustrates the attachment of transport means forhauling the machine;

FIGURE 6 is a detail view of the transport leveling device;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view of a hydraulic system for the transportassemblies.

Referring now to the several views of the drawing, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout, the machine orapparatus of the present invention comprises a unitary frame, generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10, which includes longitudinallyextending transversely spaced vertical side plate members 11 and 12,joined by transversely extending plates 13 and 14 and transverse hollowbeams 16 and 17, which are generally rectangular in cross-section andwhich are disposed forwardly and rearwardly respectively of a generallyrectangular, open-bottomed hopper, designated in its entirety by thereference numeral 18. At the ends of each beam 16 and 17 are verticallydisposed support brackets 20, 21, 22, and 23, each of which adjustablysupport readily removable, steerable tandem wheel assemblies 24, 25, 26,and 27, respectively. To the rear of the frame are transversely spacedlongitudinally extending removable support rods 28 and 29. Rods 28 and29 provide draw means for a screed 30 and, when laying smoothsurfacedstrips, a drag 31.

The hopper 18 is formed with transversely spaced side walls 32 and 33which are joined by a transversely extending front wall 34 and atransversely extending rear wall 35. The side wall 32 has an upperinclined portion 36 and the side wall 33 has an upper outwardly inclinedupper portion 37. The front wall 34 has an intermediate inwardly anddownwardly inclined portion 38. The rear wall has an inwardly anddownwardly inclined intermediate portion 39 disposed at an angle ofabout 120 degrees with the vertical portion of rear Wall 35. The extentof the inclined portion 39 on the rear wall is greater than that of theportion 38 on the front wall, forming an inclined shelf which receivesand supports a portion of the concrete mix which is dumped into thehopper from hoppers or mixers such as those supported on trucks. Thefront wall 34 extends downwardly to join the rear edge of transverseplate 13 and the rear wall extends vertically downward from the loweredge of portion 39 to join the forward edge of the rear plate 14. Avertically positioned plate 41 (see FIGURE 3) joins to the rear wall 35,the plate 14 and end walls 32 and 33 to form a storage reservoir 44 onthe frame for a supply of cleaning solution such as water, which on a 10ft. wide machine will contain about 80 gallons of water. Suitableelectrically driven pump means (not shown) are provided to pump thesolution from reservoir 44 through a length of garden hose or the like,to clean the machine at the end of a work day or at the end of a job.

A pair of plates 46 and 47 are adjustably secured to the outer side ofside plates 11 and 12 and define extensions for the side plates 11 and12. Plates 46 and 47, together with plate 14 define the outline for thetrailing forming portion of the machine, and said plates depend from andare adjustably secured by bolts and nuts (not shown) to the side plates11 and 12 such that the depth of the concrete or the strip of materialto be laid upon a surface 48 may be changed as desired from 3 to 10inches. Secured to the forward end of the adjustable plates 46 and 47are transversely extending hollow beams 50 and 51 which are positionedin parallel longitudinally spaced relation. Extending through the beams50 and 51 and secured thereto are longitudinally extending rods orfingers 52. In operation, the beams 50 and 51 serve to lift a ribbon ofreinforcing material such as tensioned cables or previously laid lengthsof reinforcing wire 53 and to maintain the same in a raised position asthe open-bottomed hopper 18 passes over the same. As illustrated inFIGURE 3 the rods 52 extend to a position adjacent the rear wall 35 atthe opening of the forming portion of the apparatus which has a uniformcross-section from the wall 35 rearward as defined by plate 14 andplates 46 and 47.

Supported above the rear plate 14 is an internal combustion engine 56affording a power unit for a generator 57. An electrical storage battery58 is supported from the plate 41 to afford power to a conventionalstarting motor (not shown) on the engine 56. The generator 57 provides asource of electrical power which operates vibrating means and propulsionmeans for the apparatus.

The screed 30 supported on rods 28 and 29 comprises a broad transverselyextending plate 59 having an upturned leading and trailing edge. Theplate 59 is adjustably supported from a frame 60, formed of tubularmaterial, by a plurality of adjustable bolts 61 joined to said frame 60and transversely extending inverted channels secured to the plate 59.The screed 30 is movably supported from the rods 28 and 29 by links 62affixed to the forwardly disposed inverted member (see FIGURE 1) andjoined to depending brackets 63 on the rods by links 64. Hooks (notshown) may be supported on the frame 60 such that the screed may beraised and supported by the rods 28 and 29 when the apparatus is in thetransport position.

Vertical supports 65 and 66 are afiixed to the rear of the rods 28 and29 to support the drag 31 which may be formed of a length of fabric 67such as burlap connected to a forward cross-beam 68 and drawn by cablesto provide a final finish to a concrete strip 69 placed and formed on asurface 71.

Mounted on the front of the apparatus above beam 16 is a seat 72 for thedriver and a foot support 73. Attached to the foot support may be asteering or sighting guide 74 which enables the driver to maintain theapparatus along a line or tape which he wishes the apparatus to follow.Also supported on the forward end of the machine from the beam 16 andplate 13 is an electric motor 76 and two reduction gear boxes 77 and 78,one of them, the box 78, is a variable speed box which in turn drives aWinch drum 79 upon which may be wound a cable 81. The apparatus can bepropelled at speeds between 8 inches per minute to 4 /2 ft. per minuteby the adjustment of box 78. The free end of a cable 81, which cable isthreaded through an opening 82 in the forward wall of the beam 16, isextended forwardly of the apparatus for attachment to a dead man orstationarily positioned vehicle (not shown). To afford the controlledeven rewinding of the cable 81 upon the winch drum 79, a telescopingbeam 83 is received in a socket formed in the beam 16 and extendslongitudinally from the beam 16 to a position ahead of the apparatus. Aneyelet 84 formed on the end of the telescoping beam 83 serves as a guidefor the cable as it is drawn in and wound onto the winch drum.

Also disposed adjacent the front of the apparatus are six electricdriving motors 85, powered from generator 57, for an equal number ofvibrating means disposed in the bottom of the hopper 18. The concretevibrating means are supported from brackets 87 which extend from thefront wall 34 rearward into the hopper and downward toward the bottomopening. A suitable flexible connector is provided on the end of eachbracket 87 to receive the head 88 of each vibrator. The vibrator headsinclude an eccentric weight which is rotatably driven by a flexibletorque-transmitting shaft in a sheath from the motor to the head 88. Theaction of the vibrators in the bottom of the hopper causes the concretematerial to have a fluent character such that the same will readily flowfrom the hopper 18 into the forward open end of and conform to the shapeof the forming portion of the apparatus.

The steerable tandem transport wheel assemblies 24- 27 are disposed ateach of the four corners of the' apparatus. Each wheel assemblycomprises a frame member 90 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on astub shaft 91. Each end of the frame member 90 pivotally supports aU-shaped axle support 92. Each axle support has an arm to which a tierod 93 is connected to join the U- shaped axle supports at each end ofone frame member 90 together so the axles and associated wheel and tireassemblies 94 turn together. The rear axle support of each of theforward wheel assemblies 24 and 25 also include a steering arm which isconnected to steering rods 96 and 97 extending from a steering gear 98supported on the plate 13. The rear wheel assemblies 26 and 27correspond generally to the forward wheel assemblies 24 and 25 exceptthe forward axle supports on the frame members 90 have the additionalsteering arms which are connected to steering rods 101 and 102 extendingfrom a steering gear 103 supported from the plate 14. The steering rods96, 97, 101, and 102 include a quick-disconnect coupling, such as usedon fluid couplings, affording means for quickly detaching the wheelassemblies from the steering gear,

and the frame 90 and wheels of each transport assembly 24-27 may beeasily removed from the stub shafts 91. The steering controls for thewheel assemblies 24-27 permit the machine to turn about curves or travelsideways if desired.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, the stub shafts 91 upon which the transportframes are mounted are secured to a plate 105 which may be readilyraised or lowered in a vertically disposed channel frame 106 of supportbrackets 23 which as aforementioned are secured at each end of the beam16 and at each end of the beam 17. Means are provided for raising andlowering the plate 105 relative to the vertical channels. The preferredstructure incorporates the use of hydraulic cylinders 104 supportedbetween an upper plate 107 and the plate 105. These hydraulic cylinders104 are coupled in a system including an electrically driven hydraulicpump 108 coupled to a reservoir which pump is connected in a fluidcircuit to control valves 109 such as illustrated schematically inFIGURE 6. A preferred form of the pump and reservoir is one sold underthe tradename Racine by Racine Hydraulic and Machinery, Inc. of Racine,Wis., and identified as the No. 8 power unit which is connected to aseries of valves also sold by Racine and identified as the onequarterinch stackable valves. The cylinders 104 on support brackets 20, 21, 22,and 23 are individually controlled to readily permit adjustment of theframe 10 to a desired position.

A fuel tank 111 for gasoline for the motor 56 is formed beneath theinclined portion 37 of side wall 33 as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5. Astorage tank 112 for hydraulic fluid is provided on the hopper under theinclined portion 36 of side wall 32 as also shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.The hydraulic fluid in tank 112 is supplied to a hydraulic pump 113 usedto drive two hydraulic cylinders 114 and 115 adapted to be secured toears on side wall 32 and to a frame 116, which frame 116 is removablyand pivotally mounted to the side wall 32. The frame 116 carries largewheels 118 to haul the apparatus over the road to the work site. Ahydraulic cylinder 119 is connected between side wall 33 and a pivotedtongue 121 which is detachably connected to the side wall 33 and to atow bar 122 of a truck or the like. The machine when being hauled isonly 8 ft. wide. This is provided by removing the wheel assemblies24-27, rods 28 and 29, and the beam 83.

In operation the machine is moved to the position desired or in thegeneral location where the work is to take place by transport wheels 118and the tongue 121 by a truck. Setup begins by placing the four wheelassemblies 2427 on the respective stub shafts 91 and connecting thesteering rods 96, 97, 101, and 102 to the wheel assemblies 24-27. Themachine is then lowered onto the wheel assemblies and the transportwheels and frame 116 and the tongue 121 are removed by removing pinsfrom brackets supporting the same on the side walls 32 and 33 and bydisconnecting hydraulic cylinders 114, 115, and 119. The machine is thenon the transport wheel assemblies. The cable 81 is unwound from a winchdrum 79 and secured to a dead man or a truck positioned forwardly of themachine. The rods 28 and 29 are placed and secured in their sleeves andbeam 83 is attached. The wire mesh or other reinforcing ribbon ifdesired, is positioned in place above the surface to be covered with theconcrete, and one end of this ribbon is directed above the transversebeam 50. The vertical position of the plates 46 and 47 are preset to thethickness of concrete desired and the screed 30 and drag 31 are placed.As the concrete is dumped from the mixing trucks into the hopper 18 theapparatus is moved along over the surface and the vibrators startedcausing the concrete to flow and conform to the shape of the formingportion of the apparatus defined by the plate 14 and side plates 46 and47. Upon completion of a days work or a job the machine may be quicklywashed clean by the water or other solution in reservoir 44.

The shelf 39 and ballast afforded by the solution in reservoir 44 addweight to the machine and decrease any tendency to float. Also, the factthat the forming area communicates directly with the vertical lowerportion of the hopper rear wall 35 negates the lifting force of thefluent concrete mix.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is illustrated therein a modificationof the machine which permits the machine to be used for forming astanding rib or curb with the strip. In this modification the lowerportion of rear wall 35 is cut away, a rectangular section of wall 41 iscut away, and the bottom plate 14 is formed to define an invertedrectangular channel 124 through the machine from the hopper, through thereservoir to the rear of the machine. This channel is then about seveninches high, seventeen inches wide and forty-four inches long. Into thischannel 124 may be fitted a first template 125 which will form a rib orcurb as illustrated. The template 125 comprises a plate 126 extendinglongitudinally the length of plate 14 and shaped to define the form ofthe curb and to abut the bottom plate 14 in its plane, a front plate 127which is flush with the lower portion of rear wall 35 blocks theremaining area of the front of channel 124, and a similar rear plate(not shown). Support and bolting straps 128 and 129 extend between thefront and rear plates to mount the template 125 to the vertical portionsof plate 14 forming the channel. The straps may have threaded holes toreceive bolts extending through the vertical portions of the plate 14.When it is desired to form a fiat strip without the rib or curb atemplate (not shown) comprising a rectangular front and rear plate whichblock the front and rear of channel 124, a bottom plate disposed in theplane of the plate 14, and side plates or straps similar to 128 and 129may be inserted in the channel.

When forming a strip with a rib or curb the screed 30 may be replacedwith a screed formed to correspond with the shape of the bottom of plate14 and the inserted template.

Also, as illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 5, one or the other of theplates 46 and 47 could be formed with an outwardly projecting reliefextending between the hopper and the rear edge of the plate as indicatedat 130. This change in the cross-section of the forming portion willproduce a key serving to join strips of concrete placed side by side.When the forming side'-by-side strips it will be understood that one orthe other of side plates 46 and 47 will be raised relative to thecorresponding side plate 11 or 12 to ride above the previously formedkey when pouring the second strip, depending upon which set of wheelassemblies will be riding over the previously poured strip.

Having thus described the invention, it will be understood that somemodifications could be made in the apparatus described without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A readily movable slip-form paving apparatus for pouring, forming,and finishing concrete material in strips, said apparatus comprising aunitary frame, a rectangular open-bottomed hopper formed on andsupported centrally of said frame, said hopper having a sloping rearwall means formed to receive and afford a weight supporting surface suchthat the weight of the concrete material placed in said hopper istransferred to the rear of the frame, reservoir means formed integrallywith the hopper below said sloping wall for storing cleaning solutionfor the machine which serves also as ballast during operation of theapparatus, forming means comprising side walls and a top plate mountedon said frame and extending rearwardly of the open bottom of saidhopper, vertically adjustable and steerable support wheel means mountedon said frame adjacent corners of said frame for supporting said framefor movement along the surface to be paved and for lowering said hopperand forming means into concrete spreading position, power meansconnected to said frame for adjusting said wheel means and permittingadjustment of the frame during operation, vibrating means disposed inthe lower open bottom of said hopper for causing material in said hopperto flow into and conform to the shape of said forming means uponmovement of said apparatus, winch means on said frame for moving saidapparatus forwardly, and power means for said winch means and foropening said vibrating means.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein screed means are connectedto said frame behind said forming means and drawn with said frame forsmoothing the surface of the poured and formed material during movementof the apparatus over the surface to be paved.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein tanks are builtintegrally with the frame to afford reservoirs for fuel and oil foroperating the mechanisms of the apparatus.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said Wheel meanscomprise individual tandem wheel assemblies pivotally mountedintermediate the wheels to adjustable supports on the frame withtransversely spaced wheel assemblies being collectively joined to asteering apparatus to move together in response to operation of thesteering apparatus and with each Wheel of each said wheel assembly beingsteered.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said forming means isshaped to form at least one raised rib and a planar strip of concrete.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprisessupport means forward of said openbottomed hopper for raising anddirecting a ribbon of reinforcing mesh material under said hopper to bedisposed generally centrally within a poured material, said supportmeans comprising a transversely extending bar supported adjacent theforward end of the frame to lift said reinforcing material andtranverse'ly spaced longitudinally extending rods reaching to theopen-bottomed hopper for holding said reinforcing material off thesurface to be paved.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a side wall of saidforming means includes means defining an outwardly projecting offsetportion intermediate its upper and lower edges for forming a projectingmale key on the edge of a formed strip about which a subsequent stripmay be poured to join two strips for load transfer.

3 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,895,991 1/1933 Heltzel 94- 461,994,437 3/ 1935 Reis 9444 2,006,316 6/1935 Mandt 9444 2,049,115 7/1936 Hadley 9446 2,779,258 1/ 1957 Johnson 9446 2,818,790 1/1958Canfield 9446 2,842,036 7/ 1958 Overman 9446 3,108,518 10/1963 OConnor9446 3,161,117 12/1964 Supject 9446 3,220,323 11/1965 Lewis 94463,261,272 7/1966 Jennings 9446 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner

